Elizabeth Frances Amherst (poet)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Frances Amherst (c. 1716 – 1779), poet
and amateur naturalist
, remained largely unpublished during her lifetime.
She was born to Elizabeth Kerrill and Jeffrey Amherst (1677–1750) of Kent
, one of two girls and seven boys. She married the Revd John Thomas of Welford
, Gloucestershire
; the couple had no biological children and adopted a son, the child of a brother-in-law. One of her brothers, Jeffrey
, became Lord Amherst in 1776 and later was made a Field-Marshal: he was Commander-in-Chief of the British forces when they took Montreal
in 1760.
Elizabeth Amherst was an avid fossil collector and maintained an active correspondence on the subject both before and after her marriage. Her poetry, described as "sprightly" (Greer et al. 179), would seem to have circulated mainly in manuscript
, though a few poems were printed anonymously in the 1760s. They are mainly known, however, from the Bodleian manuscript, "The Whims of E.A. afterwards Mrs. Thomas."
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and amateur naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, remained largely unpublished during her lifetime.
She was born to Elizabeth Kerrill and Jeffrey Amherst (1677–1750) of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, one of two girls and seven boys. She married the Revd John Thomas of Welford
Welford
Welford may refer to:Australia*Welford National ParkEngland*Welford, Berkshire**RAF Welford**Welford Park*Welford, Northamptonshire**Welford Reservoir**Welford Road Stadium*Welford-on-Avon, Warwickshire...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
; the couple had no biological children and adopted a son, the child of a brother-in-law. One of her brothers, Jeffrey
Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst
Field Marshal Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst KCB served as an officer in the British Army and as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces.Amherst is best known as one of the victors of the French and Indian War, when he conquered Louisbourg, Quebec City and...
, became Lord Amherst in 1776 and later was made a Field-Marshal: he was Commander-in-Chief of the British forces when they took Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1760.
Elizabeth Amherst was an avid fossil collector and maintained an active correspondence on the subject both before and after her marriage. Her poetry, described as "sprightly" (Greer et al. 179), would seem to have circulated mainly in manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
, though a few poems were printed anonymously in the 1760s. They are mainly known, however, from the Bodleian manuscript, "The Whims of E.A. afterwards Mrs. Thomas."
Resources
- Lonsdale, Roger ed. "Elizabeth Frances Amherst (later Thomas)." Eighteenth-Century Women Poets. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. 179-185.